Less than a week until FCN!

This is just a reminder to get yourself ready, get yourself in shape, and gets those feet movin'! You have only a short time until the prelims for the FCN Fursuit Dance Competition, then a short time plus one day until the FCN Fursuit Dance Competition Finals. A few things to touch on:

First, if you already have your music ready, you can upload the file to a site like Dropbox and sent the link to me at huscoon (at) gmail (dot) com. This will save a lot of headaches for both of us come Friday.

If you don't have your music ready, remember, 2-minute time limit. Highest quality format: > 192Kbit MP3/OGG, FLAC, WAV file on a CD or flash drive, no iPods please.

Second, the prelims are for the dance performers and their handlers only, no exceptions. Photography will be strictly forbidden at the prelims. However, we will allow for video taping of individual performances for the private use of the dancer(s) involved. Of course, video taping and photography are welcome and encouraged at the finals!

Finally, have fun. That is why we are all here. The dance talent within the fandom is at an all-time high and they love putting on a show for everyone else. But even if your dance talent isn't quite up to par with the best of the best, you can still have a wonderful time in these competitions, be an entertaining part of the Finals, and make some great friends along the way. I encourage every fursuiter of every skill level to tryout if you enjoy dancing. There will be no regrets :)

Good luck,

Huscoon

http://goo.gl/mNQOE

8 months ago, I posted about a job opportunity in Cincinnati that would have pushed me on a different career path than the actuarial path I wanted to be on. Well, behold, I'm currently in a job that is even further from the actuarial field that one mentioned in my journal. A lot of the same questions I asked back then are coming up to me now.

I'm currently an inventory operations analyst in Chicagoland, for those of you who do not know. I spent 4 years at Ohio State to get my bachelor's in actuarial science. I've passed two exams and plan to take the 3rd exam this August. I'm going to work my ass off this summer, just like I did last summer, to pass this exam. The scary thing about Exam 3 is that I won't know until about 2 months later whether or not I passed it. But, let's assume that I'm smart, have a good work ethic, summon my inner hatathi and learn in October that I've passed the exam. Then what?

Most likely, I'll start looking into actuarial positions again right away. It -IS- what I went to school. The growth potential in the field is absolutely amazing. I know my communication skills would set me apart from my coworkers in the field. Plus, the money ain't bad either. Only thing is that my lease is through the end of February. While I'm not "stuck" here til then, there's little reason to try and get out just a few months short of the end of my lease.

I'm not going to say I'm not happy with my current job, but I feel there are bigger and better things for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm very thankful I landed this position to begin with. Working in an office setting is great, there are a wide range of responsibilities and resume builders, and my coworkers are easy going and intelligent. However, it's not where I see myself in three years.

I think the biggest issue is Chicagoland itself. I've gotten to make some awesome friends and get to know some friends even better. Our weekend poker group is full of great friends (squipwuff, kalendil, dizfoley, aiden, just to name a few). There is so much to do in the area as well. But, the cost of living is just so damn high. I won't get too deep into the numbers, but I'm underpaid for my qualifications, after cost of living, by nearly $15,000 annually. Plus, it doesn't feel like home here. Every day, I think of places I would rather be. Usually, Ohio is at the top of that list. (There's also Iowa, but that's a different journal for a different day.)

The other problem is the job itself. My boss is a very smart man, there is no question about it. However, I feel like he doesn't quite understand my strengths and that I'm not being utilized to my full potential in this role. (Granted, he -may- be taking an opening in I/T and I may be reporting to someone else in the near future, but that's just speculation.) For now though, I'm feeling safe in my current position, but I want to make a bigger splash in the company. I just need to find the opportunity to do so. This may just be a case of "the grass is always greener on the other side."

Six months ago, I would've been happy to have just any job. But now that I do, the question becomes: what is the next step in my career and is it with this company? Though that's just who I am. I've never been content with the status quo and am always looking for the next big challenge.

Stolen from  wolvenwuff

Where are you staying?
- The Westin, aka, the main hotel

What day are you getting there?
- Thursday night around midnight, assuming  nekomon remembers to pick me up from the airport. Spoothead.

Who will you be rooming with?
- The majestic  nbowa, The brilliant  albaz, and The whiny  dizfoley

Who will you hang out with during the convention?
- Fursuiters, poker players, alcohol drinkers, Columbus furs, and friends :)

Will you be suiting?
- Is the sky blue? :D

Do you do free art?
- Hell no. You don't want my artwork anyway!

Can I talk to you?
- Only if you have halfway decent social skills.

Can I touch you?
- Only if you buy me a drink ;)

How can I find you?
- If you hear someone loud and obnoxious, or see a fursuiter leaving a path of destruction, just follow your ears/eyes.

Can I visit your room?
- Ask my roommates, then ask me.

Can I buy you drinks?
- See above. :D

Can I hug or snuggle with you?
- Only if I know you really well.

Will you be going to parties?
- Going to parties? Gurl, the parties will be coming to me!

Will you be performing?
- Does being an attention whore while in fursuit count? :D

If I see you, how should I get your attention?
- "Hi, my name is [insert your name here]. I've seen your fursuit on FA/follow you on Twitter. It's nice to meet you." *offer handshake* (Add "Can I buy you a drink?" and you're already on my good side!)

What/where will you be eating?
- Chick-Fil-A, Quizno's, Dunkin' Donuts, and other places that are quick and reasonably priced.

Can I take your picture?
- If I'm in fursuit, I insist :D

What's your goal(s) for the con this year?
- Catch up with friends, fursuit a ton, win the charity poker tournament, win the charity blackjack tournament, get shit-faced at least once or twice, and get laid. (No, I'm not kidding. >.>)

Final Four Matchups
East (Washington, D.C.) vs West (Los Angeles)
Midwest (Indianapolis vs. South (Arlington)

Top 4 Seeds
1. Duke
2. Louisville
3. Indiana
4. Gonzaga

East Region (Washington, D.C.)
Philadelphia
(1)Duke vs. (16)LONG ISLAND/SOUTHERN
(8)Wisconsin vs. (9)Wichita State
San Jose
(5)Colorado State vs. (12)BUCKNELL
(4)Marquette vs. (13)AKRON
Lexington
(6)Pittsburgh vs. (11)Oklahoma
(3)FLORIDA vs. (14)DAVIDSON
Auburn Hills
(7)Butler vs. (10)MIDDLE TENNESSEE
(2)Michigan vs. (15)FLORIDA GULF COAST

West Region (Los Angeles)
Salt Lake City
(1)GONZAGA vs. (16)NORFOLK STATE
(8)Notre Dame vs. (9)San Diego State
San Jose
(5)Oklahoma State vs. (12)Kentucky/Villanova
(4)Arizona vs. (13)VALPARAISO
Dayton
(6)North Carolina vs. (11)California
(3)Ohio State vs. (14)HARVARD
Philadelphia
(7)Vcu vs. (10)Boise State
(2)Georgetown vs. (15)IONA

Midwest Region (Indianapolis)
Lexington
(1)Louisville vs. (16)JAMES MADISON/LIBERTY
(8)BELMONT vs. (9)Minnesota
Kansas City
(5)CREIGHTON vs. (12)LaSalle
(4)Kansas State vs. (13)LOUISIANA TECH
Austin
(6)SAINT LOUIS vs. (11)Cincinnati
(3)MIAMI vs. (14)SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
Auburn Hills
(7)Unlv vs. (10)Colorado
(2)Michigan State vs. (15)WESTERN KENTUCKY

South Region (Arlington)
Dayton
(1)INDIANA vs. (16)VERMONT
(8)Missouri vs. (9)NC State
Austin
(5)Syracuse vs. (12)Oregon/Iowa State
(4)MEMPHIS vs. (13)STEPHEN F AUSTIN
Salt Lake City
(6)St Marys vs. (11)Illinois
(3)NEW MEXICO vs. (14)MONTANA
Kansas City
(7)UCLA vs. (10)Temple
(2)KANSAS vs. (15)LONG BEACH STATE

NIT Bound
Southern Miss
Denver
Tennessee
Mississippi
Stanford
Virginia
Iowa
Baylor
Massachusetts
Alabama
New Mexico State

http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/4360747/ :D

Hey dancin' fuzzies!

Are some fursuit dance competitions getting too large? Do you dislike the fact that some competitions have 60+ fursuiters trying out for them? Do you want to tryout for a dance competition and not want to overly stress out about whether will make it to the finals? Do you want to do this all while still being in the midst of the some of the best fursuit dancers this fandom has to offer? Then come to FCN for our 2nd Fursuit Dance Competition!

Last year, we put over a dozen talented fursuit dancers on the floor in a show that was as fun as any other dance competition at a furry convention. For 2013, it will be much of the same.

Just like last year, we welcome solo acts, dancing couples, as well as fursuiting crews to show off their talent, offering more ways than ever to show off your moves! Also, just like last year, "crowd reaction" will be a factor in the final score. Because when you get half of the con attendees packed in the ballroom, you want them chanting your name!

If you are interested, a link has been included explaining the fine details of this competition. If you have any questions, contact Huscoon via e-mail at huscoon(at)gmail(dot)com or through AIM, Yahoo, FA, or LJ under the username "huscoon."

Thank you and good luck!

http://goo.gl/mNQOE

This morning, I woke up to more FA drama, something we've all seen over the past week or so. It seems the death of Lemonade Coyote has brought out the best in some, and the worst in others. I mean, seriously, a guy throws out an idea and is absolutely villified for publically expressing his idea, no matter how bad the idea was.

Yes, I'm on Skrat's side in all of this. The majority of people who read this journal have at least laughed at inappropriate t-shirts on sites like tshirthell.com. However, when someone proposes an idea to honor a fallen individual, he's treated worse than any child molester or dog fucker in this fandom. How dare you people!

I don't know Skrat personally. I also didn't know Lemonade personally. So I don't have a dog in this fight. I see the fandom lost a great individual in Lemonade last week, but nothing more. I understand that Skrat has avoided several of you in the past. But how so? Has he stolen money from people? Has he physically abused others? What exactly has he done aside from being a little annoying?

Don't like his idea? What ever happened to simply expressing that, "This seems like a bad idea"? Or not offering money to the guy. How about stating that, "This doesn't look popular, I don't think you'll get the money you need?" Let me search through your words and writings and curse you out for every bad idea you've ever had.

This all seems like a bunch of people who are simply annoyed by Skrat, then using this to pile on and berate him publically. I'm sure if the same idea was proposed by someone more popular, it would've been welcomed with open arms and 500 t-shirts would've been sold. But since it was Skrat, oh no, we have to jump on the Hate Bandwagon.

Then, half of you fuckers flat out lied about the guy, accusing him of trying to profit off the idea or wanting a fursuit instead. Where's your proof? It sure isn't in the original entry. Simply disgusting treatment.

You guys want to talk about how Lemonade would response to Skrat's entry? How would Lemonade respond to the fact that over 200 people started some venom-filled drama in the name of his defense? Ask yourself that.

Simply disgusting. All of you.

EDIT: As far as the hotel issue is concerned, it has been dealt with. My boss had the exact same issue. So, someone somewhere dropped the ball on this one whether it was our travel agency, the hotel staff, or someone in our own company. Nonetheless, the issue has been resolved.

Still working on the court deal.

Thank you to everyone who reached out to me with help and advice. I love you all so very much. Thank you :)

I've taken a number of steps so far.

Last night, I talked to the people at the hotel's front desk about their hold on my account. Since the room is only in my name and not in my company's, they are required to leave the hold on my checking account.

I called the bank afterwards, they said there was nothing they could do about either hold, but said I do have overdraft coverage at a penalty of $34/withdrawal with a maximum 3 penalties ($102) per day. This helps since my only bank account is several hundred dollars in the red at the moment. But, at this rate, I will incur so many penalties, that I will still be in the red even after next payday.

I attempted to limit the penalties by going to the ATM and getting the money needed for this trip taken out and using cash, but could not because of insufficient funds.

Called the courts this morning, and until I can schedule a hearing in Celina, there is nothing they can do. Keep in mind, I'm in Utah thru the end of the month.

Going to talk to my boss today, but I don't know what he will be able to do...

I'm scared...

I hate talking about money. Money is one of those topics that made me feel inferior to those around me. Either I wasn't making my potential, or others around me were making more, or even in college, I was working two jobs and taking out loans to barely make ends meet while other students were getting aid from scholarships or family. Even now, I hate the topic of money. I would rather talk about controversial topics like politics and religion than talk about money.

Getting through college was especially frustrating. The first year, living with my folks, going to the Lima campus, money was tight, but was never an issue. Then, I moved to Columbus. There, I made a living from eating mac and cheese, those Totino's Party Pizzas, Hot Pockets, and ramen. Going to Raising Cane's was a treat for me. Roby can vouch for what I ate when I lived with him my senior year. It was frustrating to say the least.

So many people talk about how much they miss college; I can see what they mean, in a way. I miss doing radio, getting paid to go to OSU sporting events, and the friends you make while at school. I will never miss the personal finance aspect of attending college.

Well, I may be back there for the short term. I'm going to have to get in contact with my lawyer back in Celina, but I'm in some deep shit at the moment. Long story short, there is a legal hold on nearly 75% of the funds in my bank account AFTER I paid all my bills for the next two weeks today.

When I lived in Columbus, there was a little more understanding with my financial situation, even though I always did the best that I could. Here, none of that exists. I'm honestly scared right now. I worked my ass off for four years at Ohio State. I was contacting numerous companies everyday trying to get a job for several months after graduation. I fought too fucking hard to have it taken away like this.

“To share your weakness is to make yourself vulnerable; to make yourself vulnerable is to show your strength.” - Criss Jami

Super Bowl Predictor

Simple. Before noon ET on Sunday, answer all 25 questions below. Then come game time, follow along with the game. If you make a correct prediction, you earn the number of points in parenthesis. If you don’t, you get zero for that question. Whoever has the most points at the end of the night is the winner.

1. What is the result of the coin toss?
a. Heads (10)
b. Tails (10)

2. How long will Alicia Keys’ national anthem be?
a. Shorter than 2:15 (10)
b. Longer than 2:15 (10)

3. The first 1st down of the game will result from…?
a. Pass (8)
b. Run (20)
c. Penalty (60)

4. How are the 1st points of the game scored?
a. Touchdown (7)
b. Field Goal (20)
c. Safety (100)

5. Who will score the first touchdown?
a. Colin Kaepernick (40)
b. Ray Rice (40)
c. Frank Gore (50)
d. Michael Crabtree (50)
e. Torrey Smith (50)
f. Dennis Pitta (60)
g. Vernon Davis (75)
h. Anquan Boldin (75)
i. Randy Moss (100)
j. Joe Flacco (100)
k. Rest of Field (20)
l. No Touchdowns (100)

6. What will be the 1st commercial after kickoff be for?
a. Beer (25)
b. Snack food (25)
c. Car company (25)
d. Soft drink (25)
e. Movie (40)
f. Other (50)

7. Who will call the first timeout?
a. 49ers (10)
b. Ravens (10)

8. Who will turn the ball over first?
a. Colin Kaepernick (12)
b. Joe Flacco (15)
c. Frank Gore (40)
d. Ray Rice (50)
e. Rest of Field (15)

9. What will be the result of the 1st challenge?
a. Play stands (10)
b. Play overturned (10)
c. No challenges (100)

10. In which quarter does Peyton Manning's first commercial appearance come in?
a. 1st quarter (10)
b. 2nd quarter (20)
c. 3rd quarter (40)
d. 4th quarter (100)
e. In between quarters/Never (50)

11. Who will join Beyonce on stage and perform during the Halftime Show? (Select only one. Though more than one correct answer is possible.)
a. Jay-Z (15)
b. Kanye West (20)
c. Kelly Rowland (25)
d. Michelle Williams (40)
e. None of the above (25)

12. How many combined penalty yards will there be in the 3rd quarter?
a. Less than 27.5 (10)
b. More than 27.5 (10)

13. How many times will the word “Harbaugh” be spoken by the broadcasters during the 4th quarter (From clock start to 0:00 or end of the final play of the 4th quarter, whichever is later)?
a. Less than 5.5 (10)
b. More than 5.5 (10)

14. What color Gatorade will be dumped on the winning coach? (If more than once, only the first will count.)
a. Clear/water (15)
b. Orange (20)
c. Yellow (20)
d. Green (75)
e. Red (75)
f. Blue (75)
g. Other (75)

15. Who will have the most passing yards?
a. Joe Flacco (8)
b. Colin Kaepernick (12)
c. Alex Smith (100)

16. Who will have the most rushing yards?
a. Frank Gore (10)
b. Ray Rice (15)
c. Colin Kaepernick (30)
d. Rest of Field (75)

17. Who will have the most receiving yards?
a. Michael Crabtree (18)
b. Anquan Boldin (20)
c. Torrey Smith (30)
d. Vernon Davis (50)
e. Dennis Pitta (50)
f. Randy Moss (75)
g. Rest of Field (75)

18. How many tackles will Ray Lewis have (total and assists, combined)?
a. Less than 8 (20)
b. 9-11 (20)
c. 12-14 (20)
d. More than 15 (20)

19. Will Alex Smith throw a pass?
a. Yes (20)
b. No (6)

20. Which kicker will score more points?
a. David Akers (10)
b. Justin Tucker (10)
c. Equal (50)

21. Parlay: Will Alexander Ovechkin score a goal vs. Pittsburgh? Will Torrey Smith score a touchdown vs. San Francisco?
a. Yes, both (30)
b. Only a Ovechkin goal (20)
c. Only a Torrey Smith touchdown (20)
d. Neither (12)

22. Which number will be larger? Colin Kaepernick’s passing yards vs. Baltimore or points scored in the L.A. Clippers at Boston game?
a. Kaepernick yards (8)
b. LAC-BOS points (15)
c. Tie (100)

23. Which number will be larger? Michael Crabtree’s receiving yards vs. Baltimore or Bubba Watson’s Sunday round score at the Waste Management Phoenix Open?
a. Crabtree yards (8)
b. Watson score (12)
c. Tie (50)

24. Who will win Super Bowl MVP?
a. Colin Kaepernick (12)
b. Joe Flacco (20)
c. Frank Gore (40)
d. Ray Rice (50)
e. Ray Lewis (50)
f. Michael Crabtree (75)
g. Vernon Davis (75)
h. Anquan Boldin (100)
i. Torrey Smith (100)
j. Rest of Field (100)

25. Who will win Super Bowl XLVII?
a. 49ers (8)
b. Ravens (12)

As many of you well know, I will be moving this weekend to my new apartment in the western suburbs of Chicago. Signed a 12-month lease and am simply stoked about finally getting my own place!

If you want my new address, that's fine. Just note me, text me, IM me, DM me, or some other kind of private communication.

There's a catch though. If I haven't given you my address in the past, you're not getting it right now. So if you can tell me one of my recent addresses (past two months), I will share my new address with you. This way, there's no, "Why did you give so-and-so your new address but not me" bullshit. Strict guideline set.

Still love you all though :D

Long story, short. I need something to do during the middle of the week. I also need to get back to being active for my health and my sanity.

So, anyone in the Chicagoland or DeKalb areas interested in joining a co-rec volleyball league in Elgin? It's every Tuesday night starting on January 22nd, going thru April. $400 fee per team (So, I'd imagine $50/person). Fee deadline is Tuesday, January 8th. (I just found it tonight, sorry :P)

Any thoughts?

As we reach the final hour of 2012, I look back onto these past 12 months and realize how much my life has changed in that amount of time. I find it ironic that despite all the changes I’ve experienced since January 1st, I am spending December 31st in the same place.

On the morning of January 1st, I was helping  nbowa make breakfast for dozens of house guests when  dantee surprised me with an earlier-than-expected visit. That really made my weekend and was a great way to ring in 2012.

I finished up my life at Ohio State during the first 5 months of 2012, in the classroom, on the job, and on the radio. I joined  albaz for a volleyball class in the winter and for a softball class in the spring. I rediscovered my love for geography and pushed my way through my last two actuarial math classes. I was assigned to most of men’s volleyball home matches with Justine, who grew into a well versed broadcaster during the course of the season. I remember having a lump in my throat when Ohio State’s season ended in a 5-set heart breaker in the conference championship match vs. Lewis. I was called on to broadcast 3 of the 4 Ohio State games during the Big Ten Baseball Tournament at Huntington Park in downtown Columbus.

In April, I was given large amount of responsibility in running much of the fursuit programming at FCN. I was in charge of two sets of fursuit games as well as the convention’s fursuit dance competition. Having to run four events (dance prelims, dance finals, two fursuit games) was a lot of work, but very rewarding. The fursuit games were entertaining for the audiences, fun for the fursuiters, and I still have not had to call the squad because of them, knock on wood! There were plenty of concerns about running a dance competition less than a month after FWA’s, the granddaddy of all fursuit dance competitions. Nonetheless, we were given a Saturday primetime spot and did not disappoint. The ballroom was packed to see over a dozen great performers tear up the floor. I cannot wait for FCN 2013.

In May, things ended between Dantee and myself. There was no bitterness, no hatred, nothing like that. It was a simple case of knowing what was best for us as individuals and as friends long term. To this day, I am thankful for everything Dantee has meant to my life and do not regret sharing ten months of my life with him as boyfriends. He is a kind, caring, and generous man who will make someone very happy in the future.

In June, I graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor’s in actuarial science. Friends came from all over the east coast and Midwest to help me celebrate. It was exciting beyond words; to sacrifice four years of my life toward a single goal and be able to realize it in the presence of the people who are the most important to me. My parents even came into Columbus to watch and treat myself, :robypanther:, November:, and Nbowa to dinner.

During the summer, I continued my job search with a few bites but without a job offer. I continued studying daily for actuarial exam FM/2, sometimes up to and beyond 30 hours per week. The number of rejections was discouraging, but I continued with my studying. In August, I passed Exam FM/2 with a score of 7 and put my career search into turbo mode.

The next several months saw me searching cross country for actuarial work, being forced away from Columbus to make money and being able to pay the bills. Those next two months were two of the roughest months of my life. I was away from my friends constantly. I was forced to make drives to Cincinnati. I ended up doing countless phone interviews. I even flew to Houston for an interview. It was disheartening, at best. I had given four years of my life, worked two jobs at all stages of my college career, kept my GPA above 3.0 all the way through graduation, yet I had nothing to show for it.

Finally, after keeping my friends updated on my job hunt, :squipwuff: suggested that I talk to his former boss about an opening with his company. The position was not an actuarial position, but required a strong ability to analyze data and communicate the findings with higher management. After balking at first, I decided to throw a dart at the board, see if this one would stick since nothing else was.

After several good phone interviews, they asked me to come in for an on-site interview in Chicagoland on the weekend of MFF. Win-win situation if I had ever seen one. That next week, they made a job offer to me which I accepted one week later!

In December, I moved to Chicagoland where I live currently with Squip for the time being. I started my new career as an inventory operations analyst on the 10th with a business trip to Las Vegas. Earlier this week, I received a phone call from a leasing manager in Bensenville. I will be moving into my own apartment in early February 2013.

2012 was an amazing year. I love all my family and friends for encouraging me through college, sticking with me through the tough times that were my post-college months, and being there for me when I got my new career. I don’t know where I would be without them.

2013 will be an even better year. I will have financial stability. I will call Chicagoland my home. I will make new friends. I will get healthier. I will help my company become more profitable and more efficient. And I will be happier and more successful!

Happy 2013 everybody!!!

I'll make this quick.

Problem with my personal laptop running Windows Vista. I go to boot it up. The laptop will tell me it's having problems loading and suggest that I launch Startup Repair to "fix problems that are preventing Windows from starting." After a minute or two, Startup Repair will determine it cannot repair the computer automatically, offering me the option to finish to exit and shut down the computer. I try that option, then reboot, it gets past the opening Windows animation, then nothing.

I know 95% of you know more about computers than myself. Any help or advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Stolen from  kristofur

Rules

1. You can ONLY answer Yes or No.
2. You are NOT ALLOWED to explain ANYTHING unless someone messages/comments you and asks. And believe me, the temptation to explain some of these will be overwhelming... things are not exactly as they seem.
3. It is harder than it looks, but NO explanations !!! You will want to... but don't!!!

Kissed any one of your Facebook friends? - Yes
Been arrested? - No
Kissed someone you didn't like? - Yes
Slept in until 5 PM? - No
Fallen asleep at work/school? - No
Ran a red light? - Yes
Been suspended from school? - Yes
Experienced love at first sight? - No
Totaled your car in an accident? - Yes
Been fired from a job? - Yes
Fired somebody? - No
Skydived? - No
Sang karaoke? - Yes
Pointed a gun at someone? - No
Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? - Yes
Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? - No
Caught a snowflake on your tongue? - Yes
Kissed in the rain? - No
Had a close brush with death (your own)? - Yes
Seen someone die? - No
Played spin-the-bottle? - Yes
Sang in the shower? - Yes
Smoked a cigar? - No
Sat on a rooftop? - Yes
Taken pictures of yourself naked? - Yes
Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes? - No
Skipped school? - Yes
Eaten a bug? - No
Sleepwalked? - No
Walked a moonlit beach? - Yes
Ridden a motorcycle? - Yes
Forgotten your anniversary? - No
Lied to avoid a ticket? - No
Ridden on a helicopter? - No
Shaved your head? - No
Blacked out from drinking? - Yes
Played a prank on someone? - Yes
Hit a home run? - Yes
Felt like killing someone? - Yes
Cross-dressed? - Yes
Been falling-down drunk? - Yes
Made your girlfriend/boyfriend cry? - Yes
Eaten snake? - No
Marched/Protested? - No
Had Mexican jumping beans for pets? - No
Puked on an amusement ride? - No
Seriously & intentionally boycotted something? - Yes
Been in a band? - No
Knitted? - No
Been on TV? - Yes
Shot a gun? - Yes
Skinny-dipped? - No
Caused someone to need stitches? - No
Ridden a surfboard? - No
Drank straight from a liquor bottle? - Yes
Had surgery? - No
Taken by ambulance to hospital? - Yes
Passed out when not drinking? - Yes
Peed on a bush? - Yes
Donated Blood? - No
Grabbed electric fence? - No
Eaten alligator meat? - No
Eaten cheesecake? - Yes
Eaten kids' Halloween candy? - Yes
Killed an animal when not hunting? - Yes
Peed your pants in public? - No
Written graffiti? - No
Still love someone you shouldn't? - Yes
Think about the future? - Yes
Been in handcuffs? - Yes
Believe in love? - Yes
Sleep on a certain side of the bed? - Yes
Been to a furry convention? - Yes
Own a fursuit? - Yes
Bungee-Jumped? - No
Stolen something? - Yes
Kissed someone, same gender? - Yes
Kissed someone, different gender? - Yes
Had sex in public? - No
Skipped a night? - No
Lied? - Yes
Created a Meme? - Yes
Been to another continent? - No
Been in a country without knowing the language? - No
Have seen a parent naked? - Yes

Any questions feel free to ask.

About a week ago, it felt like a scramble to get everything ready. Today, it feels like everything has come together for the upcoming move. :)

The next two days will be spent packing up my posessions, all three of them, ha ha.

Sunday, my dad and his friend are coming down to Columbus to pack my things onto his truck and head back to Celina for the week.

Next week, I've got an interview in Cincinnati on Monday (for a job I won't take, simply for networking purposes), a girls basketball double header on Thursday, and plan to make one more trip to Columbus to get any remaining iterms of mine sometime next week.

Then, on Saturday the 8th, packing up my essentials and heading toward Chicagoland. Mr.  squipwuff is being kind enough to let me stay at his place while I hunt for an apartment. (He also helped me land this job; I owe him big time.)

As for apartments, I've narrowed it down to about 7 places with strong preference toward 2 places, one in Bensenville, one in Carol Stream. Yes, I'm sure there will be a lot of "Carol Stream, I'm in you" jokes. XD!

Anyway, my first day at my new job is Monday the 10th. :D

While I haven't officially accepted the position yet, I am going to. I'm in salary negotiations with the staffing manager and should hear back about a counter offer tomorrow. Nonetheless, I will be taking the job offer. It's just a matter of making it official.

I start on Monday, December 10, less than two weeks from now. Sadly, my plans have hit a road block.

Living 6+ hours from Chicago makes it difficult to do apartment hunting. I've done my research online and have a good idea of where I want to live. But, when it comes to a major decision like finding an apartment complex, it's always best to see the place first. So no matter what, I have to find a temp place to stay before I move into a permanent place. That's where the road block comes in.

Been asking around as of late to see if any friends can give me crash space with no luck. Granted, I understand it's difficult when you're living on a college campus or live with parents or live in a studio apartment or are in the process of moving yourself. I fault nobody.

Anyway, if you are in the Chicago area (especially Elmhurst or the western suburbs) or know someone who is and able to help, it would be greatly appreciated.

I have a backup plan that involves staying in an extended stay inn while I apartment hunt. But, honestly, I would rather spend that money on getting some furniture.

Once this gets out of the way, I can really start making plans to move: Getting a moving van, getting friends together to help, etc. I'm currently aiming for December 8-9 for the first move (bringing my necessary items like clothes and toiletries), with a second move coming the following weekend (for larger items, hopefully able to fully move before Christmas).

The next several weeks are going to be hectic to say the least. I've looking forward to my future though. It's going to be an exciting and prosperous chapter in my life. I just can't wait :)

On the Thursday of MWFF, I left the pre-con to go to an interview for a data management/analysis position in the Chicagoland area. It went great, better than any of my past interviews. Well, this afternoon, I received a phone call from the company's staffing manager. He called to offer me a job with the company. But it's more than a job. It's a career. It's something that I can stay with for years to come and something that will assure that I am employed for as long as I wish to be!

First off, I am going to miss Columbus and I am going to miss Ohio. I grew up in Ohio. I've spent practically my entire life here. The state is a strong part of me. I have family here. I have countless friends here. As for the friends I've made in Columbus, they will be an important part of my life forever. Without them, I don't know where I would be. Possibly back in Celina flippin' burgers. Thankfully, Chicago is close enough to where I can visit on a fairly regular basis. But, I can't downplay how important each and every friend I've made in Columbus and the Buckeye State has positively affected my life.

Assuming I accept this job (about as much chance as the Browns missing the NFL playoffs), I would move to Chicagoland and start in early-to-mid-December. So, there are a lot of things to think about between now and then. The most important is living arrangements.  robypanther has been a fantastic landlord and roommate. I have truly been blessed to live with someone who keeps the place clean, communicates well, and has been more than respectful to me and the 9 things I own. I doubt I will find another Roby in Chicagoland; that's a very high standard.

I would like to find a roommate in the Chicagoland area who is responsible, clean, reliable, and communicates well though. I have no issue with living on my own, but why throw so much money away when I can peacefully coexist with someone else? Ideally, I would like to live either west or southwest from work (about 8 miles south of O'Hare), but still not have a nightmarish daily communicate. (Is there such thing in Chicagoland?) But, beggars can't be choosers.

Another concern is furniture. I own a shitty bed, a desk, a chair, a shelf, the "Fuck You" table, and that may be about it. So, until I put together some money, looks like a lot of nights, watching Netflix on my laptop while laying in bed. Sounds pathetic, doesn't it?

All-in-all though, this is an exciting opportunity for me and my future. So many years of hard work, sacrifice, and being surrounded by so many intelligent and kind friends have led me to this point.

I love you all. Thank you so very much for joining me on this journey. And do you know what the exciting part is? We've only just begun!

One of my close friends, who shall go unnamed, has been bugging me to use my knowledge of statistics for evil instead of good recently. He's asked that I develop a "popufur" rating algorithm to prove that I am more popular than he is. While it is foolish for this person to assume that I'm more popular, I have nothing better to do with my time right now.

So, for fun, here are the quantifiable traits that I have included in what I now call, the Furry Prominence Index.

First off, artists are the hearts of the furry fandom. Without artists, what would the furry fandom be? The best measure of an artist's impact on the fandom is FA page views.

If artists are the hearts of the furry fandom, fursuiters are the souls of the furry fandom. That leads to a simple question: do you own a fursuit? There are people who own 1 fursuit and people who own numerous. However, unless you are giving out your fursuits to many friends at cons, your impact is naturally limited.

Speaking on cons, number of conventions attended in 2012 is an important metric. This limits the impact of individuals with solely an online impact and gives extra credit to those with a more personal impact.

Also, your fursuit, who built it? Or, the better question, do you build and sell fursuits commercially? In other words, do you build fursuits for other people for a profit? If so, you get a bonus in this algorithm.

Obviously, if you are popular, you will have many, many followers on Twitter. This is a metric that tends to eliminate bias based on artistic ability and fursuit ownership.

Con chairs tend to have a great impact on the furry fandom. They have a tough, sometimes thankless job. However, their selfless work does make for a positive impact on the fandom. So, are you a convention chair?

Also, chairs of larger cons are more notable and recognizable than chairs of smaller cons. While it may be unfair, it's the truth of the matter. If you are a con chair, how many attendees are at your con?

Finally, there are bonuses to give out? First, have you ever been the GoH at a con? Second, are you male or female?

The index is meant to rate one's prominence on a scale of 0 to 10, though it is possible to get a score higher than 10. I could put the formula here on FA, but it's kinda complex. So, I will figure your rating out for you. I just need the following:

1. Current FA page views:
2. Do you own a fursuit? Y/N
3. Cons attended in 2012 (including MFF):
4. Do you build and sell fursuits commercially?
5. Current Twitter followers:
6. Are you a con chair? Y/N
- 6a. If Y, which con?
7. Have you ever been the GoH at a con?
8. Male or Female? M/F

And if you're curious, my score is: 4.7. :D

Last night was admittedly a tough night and a tough loss for the 58 million Americans who voted for Governor Romney. Americans like myself. Unlike 2008, this was not a tough decision for me. When it was clear that the former Massachusetts Governor was going to secure the Republican nomination, it was an easy decision for me come November (even though I voted early in October.) But even though Governor Romney lost by 78 or 126 electoral votes, depending on how Florida goes, I do not regret casting my vote for who I thought was best suited to lead this great nation for the next 4 years.

This isn't going to be an entry in which I spend the entire time bashing President Obama. His actions during his first 4 years weren't incompetent, but they were far from great. Admittedly, Obama came into office with a very tough economy and two wars being waged in the Middle East. During that time, he has scaled back our footprint in Afghanistan without compromising our mission there. His greatest achievement was the killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan by Navy SEALs in 2011.

That being said, there were several shortcomings associated with his time in office. The most notable was the painfully slow recovery we've dealt with since the recession of 2008. Unemployment finally fell below 8% in the past two months. There are a record number of families on food stamps, something the President bragged about. But something that has affected me personally, job placement among college graduates has been at historic lows for the past three graduating classes. I haven't even gotten to the Benghazi attack and PPACA, aka Obamacare, which failed to address the skyrocketing costs of healthcare in America.

In fairness, I didn't think then-Senator Obama was the right man for the job in 2008. He ran on an appealing platform of "change" at a time when the approval ratings of Bush and Congress were flirting with the teens. Ironically enough, Americans decided to run two candidates from the Senate which received those low approval ratings. On top of that, Americans picked two men with little to no economic background. McCain was a war veteran who jumped straight into politics after Vietnam and Obama had spent his entire life in education, then politics. When McCain lost in November 2008, I honestly did not care. It gave me hope that the Republicans could run someone with a great economic mind if needed in 2012. That person was needed.

Mitt Romney was one of the most qualified men to run for the Presidency in decades. Romney had 25 years of experience in the private sector as the cofounder of Bain Capital. This is where Mr. Romney made his well-documented fortune. Romney was trusted with the turnaround of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and delivered with exceptional results, turning a $300 million shortfall into a $100 million profit. This doesn't even mention the public relations disaster that occured before Romney took charge. On top of that, Romney was elected Governor of Massachusetts, running as a fiscally conservative and acting as one when he took office. So, when he ran for the Presidency, Mitt Romney had a combination of private business experience, that would serve him well to deal with the economic crisis facing this country, plus executive branch experience as the Massachusetts Governor.

Governor Romney was far from an ideologue. Unlike President Bush, Romney appeared to approach problems from a "whatever works" standpoint. But because of this, Romney came off to many as a flip-flopper or vague in his ideas, especially when it comes to social issues. However, he held a few key beliefs that guided him. He believes that overregulation and taxes result in limited economic growth in the private sector. He understands that an "all of the above" energy policy sets America up well for the future in the same way diversified portfolio sets the American worker up for a comfortable retirement. But he also understands that governments can help in hard economic times with well focused, increased spending. All of these characteristics appeal to me.

I'm a fiscal conservative. That's not a surprise to anybody reading this. I don't hide my political beliefs from those seeking them. I believe that lower taxes result in more jobs. I believe in the strength of supply side economics; Just look at Reagan's recovery compared to Obama's. I believe that personal economic success should be praised, not villified. I believe in free trade with nations that share our human rights record, not with nations that gain an economic advantage with sweatshops and immoral child labor. I believe that the first responsibility of a government is to defend its people from international threats. I believe that insurance companies should not be obligated to cover anything more than what is agreed upon between their agents and their costumers. But I am not a blind Republican.

I believe that a strong public education system is vital to continue to the economic strength of America. I agree with the Democrats that the government should give aid to college students needing financial help (primarily in the form of loans, not grants.) I believe that marriage is a privilege that should be extended to any two consenting adults, regardless of gender or relationship. I believe the government can do more to encourage more environmentally friendly behavior through tax credits. I believe that labor unions are the result of a capitalist system, not an agent against it.

That all being said, I saw greatness in Governor Mitt Romney. I saw a man with proven leadership through his time at Bain, his work with the Winter Olympics, and his tenure as the Governor of Massachusetts. I saw a man with a strong economic background who understood how jobs are created and who would make that knowledge work for the United States. I saw a man who understood that one size does not fit all problems, but that each issue should be examined, and the best solution be found for each one. Bain Capital didn't approach Staples with the same strategy as they approached Dunkin Donuts, Steel Dynamics with the same strategy as Burlington Coat. He could've been great.

I believe the American people missed on this one. That being said, I pray that President Obama and Congress can work together to push through this economic downturn. I want nothing but the best for the United States. And I want the United States to be a better country in 2016 than it is in 2012. God bless her.

In my tipping point states entry, I talked about the 9 swing states that will decide this election. Recently, we've seen the Romney camp make a grab at two more in Pennsylvania and Michigan. These two states have gained more focus in recent days as polls from many of the blue-leaning states have started to settle in the 2-6 point range for Obama. Admittedly, a strong biltz in these two states have made them competitive, but will Romney be able to pull off either of these states en route to the White House?

Governor Romney is a lock to win no less than 191 electoral votes today. The South, the Great Plains, and the Rocky Mountains, plus Indiana are locks for Romney, with a few exceptions like New Mexico, Colorado, North Carolina, and Florida, three of which we will get to later. (There are questions whether Florida should be included with the rest of the South: Culturally, no; Geographically, yes.)

North Carolina is next in line to swing in Romney's favor. Obama has not led in any poll in the Tar Heel State since the beginning of October. It's true that all of the polls to come out of North Carolina have been within the margin of error, it would take all of them being wrong in the same direction for Obama to repeat in this conservative stronghold. I'm going to confidentially give the 15 electoral votes from North Carolina to Governor Romney, bringing his total up to 206.

Florida is next. Understand, that if Romney fails to carry North Carolina or Florida, his night is done for. Pretty much every poll to come out of the Sunshine State in the past month has been within the margin of error. In some polls, Obama is winning by, at most, 2 points. There have been reputable polls like Fox News and Gravis Marketing that have given Romney some much stronger leads. (Before you go on a rant about the bias of Fox News, yes, I agree, but their polling is historically solid.) I give Romney good odds, probably about 1-to-3 odds to carry Florida tonight.

This is where it gets tricky for Romney. He has 235 electoral votes and only need 34 more to win the White House. Looking at the national poll numbers, Romney is in a dead heat with Obama and it is very possible that the Governor will win the popular vote. However, most of the remaining states are leaning blue by less than a 3-point margin.

Virginia and Colorado have been neck-and-neck ever since the Denver debate. No poll out of either state has been outside of the margin of error in the past month. Recently, most of the polls have been favoring the President, but there are still enough showing Romney to be the winner to make for an interesting night. These will probably be the last two states to be called. However, I believe Obama will win both of these states and win re-election, 303-235 over Governor Romney.

That being said, it's very possible that Romney wins both Old Dominion and the Rocky Mountain State. Then what? That gives Romney 257 electoral votes, 12 away from the presidency. (But he needs 13 to take Paul Ryan with him to the White House.) From this point, the easiest path to 269 for Governor Romney would be one of the big 3: Ohio, Pennsylvania, or Michigan, all of them carrying 16-20 electoral votes. However, recent polling in Ohio has been swinging blue while recent polling in Pennsylvania and Michigan has been swinging red. Nonetheless, it looks like all three are coming to settle around a 2.5-point victory for President Obama.

There is another path to 269 for Romney if he fails to carry Ohio, Pennsylvania, or Michigan, but it will require a perfect sweep of several smaller swing states. First off, New Hampshire must go red. There was a wave of polling in mid-October that showed Romney leading, but those have all disappeared recently. On top of the Granite State, Romney would have Iowa and Nevada as well. Both carry 6 electoral votes and both would be needed to win the election if Romney can't win one of the big 3. Iowa is a possibility. Nevada, despite it's nation-high unemployment, has not shown a poll favoring Romney since April. The only hope for the Governor, if he must go this route, is that all of the polling in the Silver State has been bias. ALL of the polling. (No, I will not talk about Wisconsin. Enough polling there has been outside the margin of error to call it a lock for President Obama.)

That being said, the path to the White House for Governor Romney is a steep one. It's not out of reach. But it could require a perfect storm of bad polling and a strong wave of undecideds breaking toward the challenger. It's not out of the question, but it's highly unlikely.

P.S.: The Senate will contain 51 Democrats, 47 Republicans, and 2 Independents, both caucusing with the Democrats.

Yoinked from  nbowa who yoinked it from  dragonteufel

Comment on this journal and I'll...

1. Tell you something I learned about by looking at your Fa page for 13 seconds

2. Tell you a colour you remind me of

3. Tell you my first memory of you

**4. Ask you a question **

5. Tell you something I like about you

6. Give you a nickname

7. Tell you the object that is to the left of me

8. Dare you to do this yourself in your journal

If you ask people from either the Obama camp or Romney camp, they will tell you this upcoming election will come down to 9 states. Romney has 191 electoral votes locked up, including Missouri, Arizona, and Indiana. As for Obama, 237 electoral votes are his. Ignore any claims that Michigan, Minnesota, or Pennsylvania are swing states as Romney hasn't spent ad money in any of those states since before the RNC Convention. This leaves 9 states that will decide who will be sworn into office come January.

Millions upon millions of Americans will tune in on the night of November 6 to see who wins what state. Watching the votes come in can be misleading. An example would be if the votes in rural Pennsylvania start coming in before the votes in Philly, Pittsburgh, and State College, it could look like the Keystone State could possibly break for Governor Romney. It's unwise to think that with 10% of the districts reporting from rural parts of the state can be an accurate sample of the state as a whole. The same could happen for President Obama in Missouri if votes from St. Louis and Kansas City are reported before the southern part of the Show Me State.

The solution: Look at bellwether counties in these 9 swing states when the polls close. They will give you a much better idea of how the state will go since they are a better indicator historically. Here are some of the important bellweather counties from these 9 swing states.

Colorado - Jefferson County

In 2008, Obama won the Rocky Mountain State by almost 9 points while Bush took Colorado by 4.7% in 2004. Jefferson County, just west of Denver, showed very similar numbers to the state as a whole in both elections. In 2008, Obama won the county by 9% and Bush won by 5.2% in 2004. Another county to look at is Ouray County in the southwest part of the state. Its numbers are in-line with the state as a whole, but its small population of 3,700 may cause concern.

Florida - Flagler County

Florida may be the toughest state to do this analysis for. In 2004, Oscoela County was a very good sample for the rest of the state. But in 2008, it gave 59% of its votes to Obama, who only won 52% throughout the rest of the Sunshine State. Flagler County isn't perfect, but it was one of 3 counties to go from red to blue between the '04 and '08 elections. In a state with constantly shifting populations, the area north of Daytona Beach is the best place to look for an idea of how the rest of the state will go.

Iowa - Marshall County

When Iowa switched from red to blue between 04 and 08, it took a ton of counties with it. So, you could theoritically throw a dart at map of Iowa and find a bellwether county. However, Marshall County is the most reliable. In the best two elections, it has never been off by more than 0.2% for any of the major candidates. Plus, with 20,000 voters, it makes it more reliable than Cedar County which is about half its size.

Nevada - Washoe County

This was pretty easy. Only one county changed colors between 2004 and 2008. While Washoe County includes the urban center of Reno, it also stretches all the way to the Oregon border, covering plenty of rural area. This makes Washoe County, the ideal bellwether county in the Silver State.

New Hampshire - Carroll County

Honestly, none of New Hampshire's 10 counties are good for guessing how the state will vote as a whole. However, of the 9 swings state, only New Hampshire and Wisconsin went for Kerry in 2004. It's safe to assume that the Granite State is Obama's to lose. If Carroll County is close or in Romney's favor on election night, then it will require more attention from both campaigns.

North Carolina – Lenior County

Over 21% of the population in the Tar Heel State is African-American. In 2008, they came out in force for Obama, helping him carry traditional Republican strongholds like North Carolina on his way to the presidency. However, North Carolina went to Obama by a mere 0.3%, or 14,000 votes. Lenior County did not go for Obama in 2008. He lost the county by 23 votes. That being said, this is the county to watch this November. If Lenior County is close, it will spell danger for the Romney campaign.

Ohio – Sandusky County

The Buckeye State has been important in each and every presidential election since it became a state in 1803. In 2008, there was a major shift to the left, all concentrated in northwestern Ohio around Toledo, while the rest of the state stayed mostly moderate. Sandusky County was 1 of 6 counties to go for Bush in ’04, then switch to Obama in ’08. Plus, Sandusky County gets enough influence from Toledo and from rural northern Ohio to make it an ideal swing county within the ultimate swing state.

Virginia – King and Queen County

Can you believe that two counties in the Commonwealth voted for Kerry in ’04 and McCain in ’08? Me neither. But, that tells you how important of an issue coal is in the Cumberland Plateau. However, we will go to the eastern part of the Commonwealth for the bellwether county. King and Queen County, despite its small population of under 7,000, was only off the statewide results by 1% in 2008 and 0.5% in 2004. Though, the city of Winchester was even closer to the statewide results and should be used instead.

Wisconsin – Price County

You have to believe that the swing state status of Wisconsin was one of the reasons that Governor Romney selected Paul Ryan as his running mate. After the announcement in August, the Romney/Ryan gained a 4-point bounce in the Badger State. The Ryan factor makes it even more difficult to pick a bellwether county. Historically, Price County in the Highlands is the bellwether county in Wisconsin. However, if Ryan’s district in southeastern Wisconsin swings heavily for Romney, Price County could go slightly to the left and Obama could still lose the state.

Looks like two mile-high hurdles have been thrown in my way in recent months. Life has been anything but kind to me as of late.

First, job hunt has hit dead end after dead end. I don't know if it's my 3.03 GPA, my lack of relevant work experience, or something else, no one seems interested in hiring me. The best lead I have so far is for a inventory operations specialist in the Chicago area. Even the driving jobs have no interest in me due to the fact I have spent the last 4 years in college and not on the road. If nothing else, well, there's a Burger King a few blocks away.

On top of that, just got my hospital bill from August. My insurance claim was denied, so that leaves me to pay the four-figure balance on my own. Joy.

I can make sacrifices though.

MFF is out. Unless I win the lottery or find a $10,000 laying in the street, there's no way to justify going.

If needed, I will move back in with my folks. I'm still getting plenty of officiating work in that part of Ohio, but it's still only seasonal part time work.

Oh well, I guess if you believe in karma, I'm getting mine.

I don't hide from my politics. Never have. My leanings have been well documented in my LiveJournal account, which has been fairly quietover the past few years. However, I'm also a numbers man before a politics man.

I am more likely to spend 15 minutes reading Nate Silver's blog (http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/) than reading about how many Supreme Court justices will retire over the next 4 years. I would rather check out the latest Gallup poll over the latest column on TownHall.com. That being said, I want to look at the tipping point states for the election in a month and a half.

First off, there are at least 382 electoral votes that are stone cold locks, 191 for President Obama and 191 for Governor Romney. Obama will win California, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, & Washington. Romney will win Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, & Wyoming. If any of these states come up for grabs in the coming weeks, it will spell bad news for their respective candidate. Now, to look at the other 156 electoral votes up for grabs.

Those states above aren't the only troublesome states. The following states aren't locks for their respective candidates. However, if they go the other way, it could be the beginning of the end for them.

Minnesota (10 electoral votes) - In 1984, only Minnesota and D.C. voted for Walter Mondale. In fact, Minnesota has gone blue every election since 1972. The state, as a whole, is moving to the right, but the popularity of social liberalism holds strong in the Twin Cities and will keep Minnesota blue in 2012.

North Carolina (15 e.v.) - One of two shockers, the Tar Heel State going to then-Senator Obama was a sign of things to come on election day 2008. President Obama has done an amazing job of motivating the base here. However, North Carolina has been harder hit than most states by the economic downturn. This traditional red state should go back to the Republicans this November.

Michigan (16 e.v.) - The Great Lakes State was a wild card when Santorum pulled out of the Republican race. Romney has strong roots in the state of Michigan and has worked that angle for most of his campaign. However, the rebound of the American auto industry has made President Obama a hero in "that state up north", giving him a great chance of holding Michigan this November.

Pennsylvania (20 e.v.) - It's amazing. Every four years, analysts talk about Pennsylvania being an important swing state and every four years since 1988, the Keystone State has gone blue. There was some hope for Republicans in 2010 when Tom Corbett won the governor's race. However, statewide discontent with him has destroyed most any chance Romney has to carry the state in November.

Florida (29 e.v.) - The Sunshine State is no lock for Romney by any stretch of the imagination. However, if Governor Romney doesn't carry Florida, it will be a long, hard uphill battle for him to unseat President Obama. The candidate to win Florida has won the election each of the past 5 elections.

At this point, it is a 237-235 advantage for President Obama. That leaves 66 electoral votes in 7 states that will decide the election in November. Let's start in the west.

Nevada (6 e.v.) - Just like Southern Christians are different than Midwestern Christians, Nevada Mormons are different from Utah Mormons. In fact, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is a Mormon himself. Despite its small population, Nevada has been an important swing state, going the way of the United States each of the past 8 elections. Obama has led in every poll over Romney to date and pending an October surprise, it should hold true come November.

Colorado (9 e.v.) - Now we start getting into the who-knows area. With 7 weeks left, anything can happen in the following states. Last month, Governor Romney gained ground on Obama in the polls, making the Rocky Mountain State a dead heat. If I was a betting man, I would give Obama the edge. However, since we are talking about tipping point states, we will give this to Romney since he can win this state and easily lose the election whereas if Obama loses Colorado, his campaign can hit the panic button.

New Hampshire (4 e.v.) - Let's head back out east for a second to look at the black sheep of New England. New Hampshire is a swing state surrounded by the bluest of the blue states and the Atlantic Ocean. Despite its swing state status every four years, like Pennslyvania, it seems to always find a way to go Democratic. However, unlike Pennsylvania, a recent Rasmussen poll gives Governor Romney a 3-point lead in the Granite State. Though, I'm not convinced by just one poll and think this is a state Obama should win, but if it doesn't, it's only 4 electoral votes.

At this point, Obama leads 247-244 with only 4 states and 48 electoral votes remaining. Let's start splitting those up.

Wisconsin (10 e.v.) - Paul Ryan was a bold VP selection by Governor Romney. We can read so much into it about his ideology and his beliefs. For the sake of this journal, we can read that the Romney camp strongly believe they can win Wisconsin. The last Republican to win the Badger State was Ronald Reagan in 1984 when he won 48 other states. One issue in predicting this state is that polling has been all over the place from seeing Romney by 3 to Obama by 14. For argument's sake, going to have to go with the historical data and assume the Ryan VP bump has worn off come November.

Virginia (13 e.v.) - Mark Warner and his popularity can be credited from turning the Commonwealth from a solid red state to a vital swing state in presidental elections. However, Virginians tend to love their own. Current governor Bob McDonnell is enjoying some of the highest approval ratings in the country. The Commonwealth could go either way, but my guess is that it will go red before the final two states do.

At this point, the electoral votes are 257-257. We have two states left.

Iowa (6 e.v.) - Not only does Iowa get the few say in the election process in January, the Hawkeye State is also a major player in November. Iowa has always been very confusing for election pundits. The state is 93% white, predominately Christian, and with minimal urban influence. However, eastern Iowa has been a stronghold for the Democratic party, while the GOP has always been able to rely on western Iowa for votes. But come Novembers every four years, Iowa has been a good measure of how the rest of the country will go.

Ohio (18 e.v.) - Staying in the midwest, the Buckeye State has been the bellwether state to end all bellwether states. With urban centers and sprawling rural farms, a good mix of people from different backgrounds, a strong Christian influence, but not too strong, the state of Ohio is a microcosm of the United States as a whole. This year, as much as any other, the way Ohio goes will be the way the United States goes.